Venetian blind



' VENE'I'I'AN BLIND Filed July 3, 1940 1 2 sheets-sheet; 1

- Hwy-J 1.

NNNNNN OR Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas I. Stahl, Pomona, Calif.

Application July 3, 1940, Serial No. 343,896 9 Claims. (6!. 156-17) My-invention relates to new and useful im-.

provements in Venetian blind constructions.-

An important object of my invention is the provision of a Venetian blind wherein the lifting cords extend in spaced relation with the slats. thus eliminating the necessity of providing the slats with the conventional openings for receiving the cords and permitting the slats to be severally or collectively removed from the assembly.

Another object of my invention is'the provision of a Venetian blind of the above-mentioned character which includes stackers attached to and movable with the ends of the lowermost slat or lifting rail for receiving the ends of the upper slats in nesting relation when the blind is raised, which stackers cooperate with the ends of the slats to rack the side edges and ends of the several slats in a uniform andeven manner.

Still another object of my inventionis to provide a Venetian blind construction of the abovementioned character wherein the stackers have Provision for deflecting drapes or curtains when the blind is raised or lowered thus eliminating the possibility of the slats catching and tearing the same during the raising and lowering operation. 1

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a Venetian blind that is simple in its construction to reduce manufacturing costs to a minimum and to permit the same to be easily and expeditiously disassembled by inexperienced persons for cleaning or repairing purposes.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 isa front elevation of a Venetian blind constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and showing the same associated with a window frame.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing the manner inwhich the slats are nested within the stackers,

Figure 3 is an and elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure '6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view illustrating one means for securing the vertical tapes-of the ladders to the upper tilting bar and the lower lifting rail,

Figure "I is a fragmentary vertical sectional,

view taken on the line |--'I of Figure 2,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the stackers embodying a part of my invention,

Figure 9 is a perspective view, showing parts broken away, of one of the tapes used in the ladder construction, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating a modification of the means for associating the lifting cords with the blind.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral III designates a conventional window frame having side members II and I2 arranged at opposite sides of the window sash l3. The upper ends of the side members are connected by the horizontally arranged top member i4 and the lower ends thereof are provided with a sill I5 and apron l6.

A Venetian blind constructed in accordance.

, the frame It. The top or cross bar I1 is arranged directly below the upper member ll of the frame and extends the full distance betweenthe side members H and If. The brackets l8 and II depending from the bottom face of the cross bar adjacent its opposite ends carry the usual tilting or rocking bar 20. The spaced, vertical. parallel ladder tapes 2| and 22 are suspended from the tilting bar 20 and a plurality of horizontally arranged vertically spaced slats 23 are supported by the ladders in the conventional manner.

, It is my intention to provide a Venetian blind construction which may be readily disassembled for cleaning or repairing. One of the main objections to present type constructions is that the assembling and disassembling of the blinds requires a great deal of time and skill. This is particularly true in those constructions wherein the lifting cord operates through openings in the several slats, it being necessary to position the opening in each slat in vertical alignment in order that proper operation of the same be effected. This type of construction also requires that the cord be removed before any of the slats may be taken from the assembly for cleaning or releasably held in proper relation between the spaced vertical tapes of the ladders by encircling loops, or the like.

Figure 6 illustrates one means for connecting the tapes to the tilting and lifting bars. The clips 26 are secured to the upper face of the tilting bar 20 and to the lower face of the lifting bar 24, one clip being provided for each end of the ladders 2| and 22. Each of the clips is of identical construction and comprises a flat base plate 26 having slots 21 in its opposite ends for receiving the screws 28 which secure the same to the rail and bar. The side edges of the plate are formed with integral tabs 29 which are bent inwardly and extend in spaced parallelism with the base. As best illustrated in Figure 6, the tabs terminate a substantial distance from the longit'udinal center of the plate to provide a space therebetween. The ends of the vertical tapes of I each of the ladders are folded inwardly to form a double layer of fabric, which double layer is stitched along the longitudinal edges thereof to provide pockets 3i. As illustrated in Figure 7, the vertical tapes extend in embracing relation with the bottom rail and tilting bar and the ends thereof are folded under the bottom rail and over the tilting bar to permit the pockets 3| to be fitted over the tabs 29. The space between the tabs permits the tapes to be easily slipped over the tabs and the tabs are snugly fitted in the pockets to normally hold the tapes in fixed association therewith.

I have provided a novel arrangement for raising and lowering the blind wherein the lifting cord 32 is spaced from the ends of the slats. The slats are at all times free from contact with the cords during the raising and lowering operation and it is only necessary to disengage the ends of the ladders from the tabs 28 to permit the ladders and slats to be removed as a unit from the assembly. Thus, the positioning of the lifting cords free from engagement with the slats permits the individual slats to be slipped from the encircling loops of the ladders for cleaning or repairing or permits the entire slat assembly to be removed for the same or other purposes.

The lifting cord is doubled at its middle, which portion hangs downwardly from the cross bar H. The ends 33 and 34 of the cord extend within channels provided interiorly of the bar i1 and pass exteriorly of the bar through openings in the bottom face thereof, which openings are positioned beyond the ends of the slats whereby the ends of the cord will hang downwardly in longitudinally spaced relation therewith. Suitable pulleys or sheaves may be provided within the bar II to assure the smooth operation of the cord. The extremities of the depending ends 33 and 34 are fixedly secured to the stackers 35 and 33 secured to and movable with the opposite ends of the lower rail 24.

The stackers are identical in their construction, each comprising an essentially channel-shaped structure having an outer vertical wall 31 and side walls 38 and 39. The side walls extend below the bottom edge of the wall 31 and the extending portions are bent inwardly to engage under the rail. As illustrated in Figure 5, the side walls 33 and 39 are spaced apart a requisite distance to permit the end of the rail 24 to be snugly received therebetween. Screws 43, or the like, extend through the lower end of the wall 21 and into the ends of the rail to hold the stackers in fixed association therewith. The upper ends of the side walls 38 and 39 extend substantially above the upper edge of the wall 31 and the extremities thereof are rolled outwardly upon themselves to provide outwardly sloping portions 4| and 42 which define a' guideway engageable with the longitudinal edges of the slats for directing the slats 23 into the channel 41 provided by the back and side walls 31, 38 and 39.

The screws 40 also hold clamping pieces 43 positioned in superposed relation with the outer face of the stackers. The portion of the clamping pieces extending above the screws is of tubular formation, which portions receive the ends of the cord and are thereafter crimped to securely hold the cords therein. The upper edge of the rear wall 31 is provided at substantially its middle with an inverted essentially key-shaped recess 44, the narrow slot portion of which recess opens through the edge of the plate to provide spaced fingers 43 and 46 which resiliently engage over the upwardly extending cords to hold the same in proper alignment.

The looped middle portion of the lifting cord may be operated in the conventional manner to effect raising or lowering of the blind. As the middle portion is pulled downwardly, the ends 33 and 34 secured to the stackers will elevate the lower rail 24 and, as the stackers move with the rail, the rolled upper ends of the side walls will direct the ends of the slats into the channel 41. The slats are of the same width as the rail 24 and the longitudinal edges thereof slidably engage the inner faces of the side walls whereby nesting of the slats within the stackers will assure the proper aligning of the sides and ends of the several slats. The manner in which the stackers are associated with the slats when in the folded position promotes a neat appearance and prevents the slats from becoming disarranged. The rolled upper ends of the stackers will prevent the same from catching and tearing drapes or curtains hanging at the sides thereof. As the stacker moves upwardly the rolled end of the side wall will deflect the curtain and, as the slats are received therein, their ends will be protected by the side walls of the stackers to prevent their catching or tearing the curtains. If a compound lift of the bar is desired, the pulley 33 may be carried by screws 40, as shown in Figure 10.

The cord 48 passes over the sheave or pulley 49 which has a suitable cooperation with the tilting bar 20 whereby actuation of the cord will pivot the tilting bar about its longitudinal axis and, consequently, effect a corresponding tilting of the slats 23.

It may thus be seen that my assembly permits the slats to be separately or collectively removed from the assembly for cleaning or repairing purposes. The lifting cords are incorporated in the assembly free from engagement with the slats and promotes rapid and efllcient disassembling of the blind. The stackers carried by and movable with the opposite ends of the lower rail 24 collect and alignthe slats when the blind is being raised and prevents the ends of the slats from tearing or otherwise engaging the curtains or drapes normally hung about the ends of the slats. The outwardly inclined parts 4| and 42 of the side walls of the stacker will guide the slats into the channel 41 regardless of whether the slats are horizontally arranged or inclined from the horizontal and will neatly stack the same in a horizontal plane.

It is obvious that the hereindescribed blind construction may have wide application for other purposes and in other settings than are set forth specifically in the specification. For instance, the blind may be suspended from any type of mounting whether it be a recessed opening, .the face of the'window frame, or a fiat surface such as is presented by a French door or the like. In certain types of dwellings the interior walls are not provided with casings at the, window openings. Where such conditions present themselves it may be necessary to mount the brackets II and IS on the wall at each side of the window and, when the blind is thus mounted, the slats will extend several inches beyond the sides of the window opening.

It is to be understood that the form of my.

invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention,- or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind of the type including a plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended from a suitable support,

a stacker carried by and movable with each end.

01' the lowermost of the slats, each of said stackers having a channel opening through its inner face and upper end to' receive the ends of the upper slats during the up and down travel of the said lowermost slat.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein means to raise and lower the slats is connected to the stackers and arranged in spaced relation with the ends of the slats.

3.' In a Venetian blind of the type including a each or the said walls sloping outwardly to provide a guideway for directing the ends of the slats into the said channels. I

5. In a Venetian blind of the type including a plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended from a suitable support, a stacker mounted on each end of the lowermost slat, each of said stackers being movable with the lowermost slat to collect and nest the superjacent slats 'as the lowermost slat is raised and including parts arranged in embracing relation with the ends 01' the slats for guiding and directing the said ends during the travel of the said lowermost slat.

plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended from a suitable support, a stacker carried by and movable with each end oi the lowermost oi' the slats, and cord elements defining a channel in which the ends of the upper slats may be nested during the up and down travel of said lowermost slat, the upper end of 6. In a Venetian blind of the type including a plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended from a suitable support, a stacker mounted on each end of the lowermost slat, said stackers being movable with the lowermost slat to collect and. nest the superjacent slats as the lowermost slat is raised.

7. In a Venetian blind oi the type including a plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended from a suitable support, a stacker'mounted on each end of the lowermost slat, each of said stackers being movable with the lowermost slat 'to collect and nest the superjacent slats as the lowermost slat is raised and including an upstanding part arranged in front of the slats for guiding and directing the ends of the slats during the travel of the said lowermost slat.

8. In a Venetian'blind of the type including a plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended irom a suitable support, a stacker mounted on each end oi'thelowermost slat, each of said stackers being movable with the lowermost slat to collect and nest the superjacent slats as the lowermost slat is raised and including an upstanding part arranged in front of the slats for guiding and directing the ends of the slats during the travel of the said lowermost slat, the upper end of the said upstanding part being shaped to deflect curtains or the like away from the ends of the said slats.

9. In a'Venetian blind oi the type including a plurality of vertically movable, horizontally arranged slats suspended from a suitable support, a stacker mounted on at least one end 01 the lowermost slat, said stacker being movable with the lowermost slat to collect and nest the super- Jacent slat ends as the lowermost slat is raised.

THOMAS J. STAHL. 

